Attached are the latest CDC recommendationsfor implementation of risk mitigation strategies in Florida. Many physicians have been asking questions regarding how the CDC recommendations will apply to their practices. Below are the CDC recommendations for healthcare settings and healthcare providers (HCP) in the outpatient, nursing home/long-term care facility, inpatient, and telehealth settings.
Implement telehealth for rural communities.
Consider reducing elective procedures.
Implement triage before entering facilities (e.g. parking lot triage, front door); phone triage and telemedicine; limit unnecessary healthcare visits.
Encourage HCP to stay home and notify healthcare facility administrators when sick.
Actively monitor HCP absenteeism and respiratory illness among HCP and patients.
Consider implementing temperature/symptom checks for staff, visitors, limit visitor movement in the facility.
Actively monitor PPE supplies.
Establish processes to evaluate and test large numbers of patients and HCP with respiratory symptoms (e.g. designated clinics for people with fever, surge tent for overflow triage, offsite testing locations).
Cross train HCP for working in other units to support staffing shortages.
Appendix A of the CDC’s recommendations includes an array of medical conditions treated by a wide range of specialties that can exacerbate the risk of COVID-19 for individuals of any age.
The CDC is not recommending a blanket closure of all medical facilities (including outpatient practices) and has highlighted multiple conditions affecting individuals of all age groups that require ongoing care in order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.
CMS has released guidance on the use of telehealth services during this crisis. Please use the following links for information on what telehealth services are covered and appropriate billing rules for those services.
FAQ page that covers both Telehealth as well as other testing and payment issues.
Gov. DeSantis has declared a state of emergency and the Florida National Guard will be deployed today Monday, March 16th to help with the response to the pandemic. The state emergency response team has a website with links to programs that can help mitigate the impact of this emergency: floridadisaster.biz.
Congress is currently considering legislation that would provide paid medical leave but this has not been passed and sign into law yet.
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PSCF President